Neil Ridley:
Professional Drinks Writer, Event Host and TV Presenter.
Neil Ridley is an award-winning professional drinks writer, broadcaster, consultant, host and presenter with 15 years of drinks industry experience.
He has been shortlisted four times as a 'Communicator Of The Year' by the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) and his first book, co-written with Joel Harrison, Distilled: A Guide To The World's Best Spirits (Octopus Publishing), was awarded ‘Best Drinks Book’ in The Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards in 2015. To date, it is the biggest selling book globally on pan-spirits, now published in 14 different languages. ‘60-Second Cocktails’ is a no.1 bestseller in both the UK and the USA and his latest two books, ‘In Fine Spirits’ and ‘The Crisp Sommelier’ are released in October 2024.
He is also the author and co-author of a further 7 books on drinks, cocktails and bar culture.
Click for more details
Neil is at the forefront in providing expertise and innovation in the alcoholic drinks world: from Whisky to Gin, Port to Prosecco, Cognac to Craft Beer and other exotic drinks, he has a wealth of knowledge to share with audiences across the globe.
Until 2016 he served as the Editor-At-Large for Whisky Magazine and the Chairman of the World Whiskies Awards and continues to be a judge for a number of other high-profile global drinks competitions.
In 2013 he was made a ‘Keeper Of The Quaich’, one of the highest accolades in the Scotch whisky Industry and in 2016 was inducted into the Mousquetaires d’ Armagnac, in recognition for his services to the global promotion of this noble French brandy. In 2018 he was made a Rectifier of the Gin Guild for work within the growing gin market and in 2019 inducted as a Liverymen for the Worshipful Company Of Distillers. Since 2016 Neil has been a contributor to the The Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspaper and also writes regularly for the internationally acclaimed Decanter magazine. His most recent role is the resident drinks and cocktails correspondent for Wallpaper Magazine.
Click on the links above for examples of some of Neil’s articles.
Neil is an experienced and highly versatile TV host and presenter, serving as a resident drinks expert on Channel 4 Sunday Brunch for the past 10 years. He has also hosted international brand events, product launches and awards for the likes of Jameson Irish Whiskey, The Glenlivet, Suntory, Tamdhu, The Spirit Of Speyside Festival, The Telegraph Gin Experience, Mr Porter and Whisky Live.